Each time the printer is turned on it prints a pattern page first

After you have selected whichever test pattern you want ie 05 for lined page press the OK and exit this sp. if you go to the 5-990 SP PRINT OUT mode and choose any of the options there the printer will print a pattern on the pages instead of the data.

With most Zebra printers, a test page is printed by pressing and holding the PAUSE key while turning on the power. Keep pressing the PAUSE key until the printer completes the POST (power on self-test), then you can let go. A test pattern will begin printing. You can stop the pattern by pressing PAUSE. Turning the printer off & on again is the fastest way to end the test. This is a good page to print because it prints a large black box and it's easy to see if there are any printhead elements not functioning. It's best to use the largest, widest label you have for this test.

Hope that helps !

Resetting or reinitializing the network card's NVRAM will clear all TCP/IP configuration information. To have a record of this information, it is recommended that you print a network settings page prior to performing the reset procedure. Press to print both printer and network settings pages.

1. Turn the printer off.
2. Press the left front cover release button and pull the front door down.
3. Press and hold while powering the printer On.
4. Release when the LED is illuminated. NOTE: Be patient as the LEDs will light up in multiple patterns before finally stopping at
5. Close the front cover. NOTE: Observe that the , , and LEDs will be illuminated at the same time. This is known as the Home position.
   OPTION: Have the customer hold down to print a "Printer Diagnostics" menu page.
6. Slowly press the button until the , , and LEDs are illuminated. NOTE: Normally, this will require you to press the button 11 to 13 times, depending on the options and features installed.
7. Press and hold until all LEDs flash or strobe from left to right, then release the button. Wait until this process stops with a pattern of three LEDs that should resemble the Step 6 pattern.
8. Press and hold until the light pattern returns to the pattern of four LEDs in Step 5 or theHome position.
9. Turn the printer Off.
10. Turn the printer On.
    NOTE: If on a DHCP network, wait 30 seconds to see if the DHCP server/router sends out an IP address to the device. A settings page will automatically print if this is successful. A longer wait may be required on other networks.
11. Press to print the settings pages and observe that all the TCP/IP settings have been reset.
12. Reconfigure the device using DHCP, Auto IP (zero configuration) or the IP Setup Utility.

Hope this helps.

If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may need to align the print head. Make sure the EPSON Stylus CX3200 is turned on and not printing, and the Error light is off. Load plain, letter-size paper in the sheet feeder. Press a Menu button until you see Head Alignment, then press the Color Copy button to print an alignment page. On the test page, select the pattern with the two vertical lines most precisely printed on top of each other. You may need to use a magnifying glass or loupe. Select one pattern each for rows 1, 2, and 3. (In this example, pattern 8 is the best in each row.) Press the + or - button to select the number of the best pattern for the first row, then press the Color Copy button. Repeat this step for the second and third rows. Note: If you select a pattern other than 8 in any row, that pattern becomes pattern #8 the next time you align the print head. When you’re finished, press the Stop button.

It sounds like an alignment issue. If the first line prints correctly, there could be something stuck in the print-head path (like a piece of paper) or the "encoder strip or wheel" could be dirty.

Unfortunately the unit would have to be opened and inspected.
Lift the lid and look under the top cover to the extreme left and right to make sure there is no loose piece of crumpled paper stuck inside.

If this doesn't produce any results, try printing out the alignment page. Press Ink, then test print, then alignment. Print the page. There should be two sets of patterns. Zero represents a perfect pattern. Enter the number beside the pattern that looks closest to zero. You can see a line to each side of each pattern. Always choose the pattern where the line looks like one line, and not like two. If all you can see is patterns with two lines beside them always choose the lines that are closest together. The machine will move your selection to position 5. Print out the test again and select the best pattern again. Keep doing this until the checkerboard effect disappears, and the two lines on each side of pattern 5 have become one line. You may have to do this 10-15 times IF the alignment has gotten really bad.
If this doesn't help, or if it gets worse the unit will have to be opened and the encoder strip and encoder wheel cleaned or replaced.

IN THE PRINTER SETTINGS YOU MAY HAVE THE "PRINT TEST PAGE" SELECTED

Try the following below if it continues to print in red half way through then either your ink carts have expired or something is wrong with them if you are using coral draw to print images there is know problems with that I have listed the solution to that as well. please tell the results of the test page as well please. and also I have included a few other tests please run through these. The sample page can be used as a quick check of the image quality from the black and color print cartridges. Unlike most printing, this page prints from the bottom of the page to the top for user viewing during printing.

1. Turn the printer off and then turn it on again by pressing the POWER button.
2. Press and hold down the RESUME button and release it when the Power light starts to blink.

The sample page can also be printed from the Toolbox (provided the Toolbox is installed) to verify that the printer is connected to the computer properly and that the printer and printer software are working properly.

1. Double-click the Toolbox icon on the Desktop or run it from the HP Deskjet 1220C Printer program group.
2. Select the Printer Services tab and click Print a Test Page

--------------------------------------------------------------
Printing the diagnostic page The information displayed on the diagnostic page includes the printer model, serial number, service ID (born-on date), firmware revision, total page count and last error code (see Figure 2). If an error code (hex) number is displayed, it represents the last error that occurred regardless of whether the problem that caused the error has been fixed and the printer is presently operational. To print a diagnostic page see the following:

1. Turn the power on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the RESUME button four times.
4. Release the POWER button.

Running the pen recovery diagnostic test If printouts have incomplete text or graphics that are not corrected by cleaning the print cartridges, use the pen recovery diagnostic test. The pen recovery diagnostic test is a three-level cleaning procedure that attempts to clear blocked print cartridge nozzles. The tests can be run either from the Toolbox under Printer Services or by pressing the button sequences below. The Level 1 print cartridge cleaning is a light cleaning mode. Use this level first to clear blocked nozzles.

1. Turn the power on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the CANCEL button twice.
4. Release the POWER button.

After running the Level 1 print cartridge cleaning routine, run the nozzle pattern test explained in the "Printing the nozzle pattern test" section below to verify that the cartridge has recovered. If no irregular gaps are present on the printout of the nozzle pattern test, the print cartridge has recovered. If there are irregular gaps in the printout, run the Level 2 pen recovery. The Level 2 cleaning is an intermediate cleaning mode to be used if the Level 1 mode does not recover the nozzles.

1. Turn the power on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the CANCEL button twice and the RESUME button once.
4. Release the POWER button.

After running the Level 2 print cartridge cleaning routine, run the nozzle pattern test explained in the "Printing the nozzle pattern test" section below to verify that the cartridge has recovered. If no irregular gaps are present on the printout of the nozzle pattern test, the print cartridge has recovered. If there are irregular gaps in the printout, run the Level 3 pen recovery. The Level 3 cleaning is the most intensive cleaning mode that takes about two minutes to complete. Use this level as a last resort in recovering clogged nozzles. This routine uses a considerable amount of ink.

1. Turn the power on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the CANCEL button twice and the RESUME button twice.
4. Release the POWER button.

After running the Level 3 print cartridge cleaning routine, run the nozzle pattern test explained in the "Printing the nozzle pattern test" section below to verify that the cartridge has recovered. If no irregular gaps are present on the printout of the nozzle pattern test, the print cartridge has recovered. If irregular gaps still appear in the printout, replace the cartridge. NOTE: Do not use the pen recovery tests unnecessarily or the life of the print cartridge will be shortened. Printing the nozzle pattern test This test prints a pattern to determine which nozzles, if any, are clogged or not firing and can be used to verify a successful cleaning routine (see Figure 3). Look for irregular spaces or gaps in the test pattern; these indicate faulty nozzles.

1. Turn the power on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the CANCEL button eight times and the RESUME button four times.
4. Release the POWER button.

Printing the calibration page This test provides calibration of the print cartridges. Calibration includes print cartridge alignment and optimizing the turn-on energy for the installed color print cartridge.

1. Turn the power on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the RESUME button three times.
4. Release the POWER button.

Eight green checks, one on each line of the printout, signify that the calibration was successful. ----------------------------------------------------- Printing the infinite H test This test prints continuous pages of the letter H and is useful for troubleshooting paper feed problems or other intermittent problems that are difficult to replicate.

1. Turn the printer on.
2. Press and hold down the POWER button.
3. While holding down the POWER button, press the RESUME button eight times.
4. Release the POWER button
5. Press and release the POWER button to terminate the test.

What is your operating system? Windows 2000, XP, Vista or You are running on a Mac OS 10.4.x or 10.5.x and what is the processor. We will need that info so we can further assist you.
By the way for the mean time you may want to try this.


This is what you can call a stand alone test for your printer.

To make sure your printer is physically functioning you can try this.

1. Turn the printer off by holding down the POWER button for about 3 seconds.

2. Disconnect the printer cable that is connecting printer to the computer.

3. Load A4 or LETTER size paper in the sheet feeder on the back of the printer.

4. Hold down the PAPER button and press the POWER button to turn on the printer. Then, release only the POWER button. Continue holding down the PAPER button until the POWER light starts to flash, and then release it.

5. The printer will print a pattern displaying a number and a nozzle pattern with black & color. Examine the nozzle check pattern that has printed. Each staggered horizontal line and straight vertical line should be complete.

If the Nozzle Check Pattern page does not print, prints with gaps or some of the colors do no appear, then there is an issue with the printer. That means that troubleshooting is required on the printer prior to using printer on the computer.

If the Nozzle Check Pattern page prints correctly and completely, the problem may lie within your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer. Which like I said earlier we will need the additional info about your computer. Keep us posted so we can help you out.

You may want to do the ff. just to make sure your printer is physically functioning.

1. Disconnect the printer cable that is connecting printer to the computer.
2. Turn the printer ON by holding down the POWER button for about 3 seconds.
3. Load A4 or LETTER size paper in the sheet feeder on the back of the printer. Press the SETUP button to enter Setup Mode.
4. Press the Up or Down arrows to select NOZZLE CHECK. Press the OK button,
then press OK to print a nozzle check.
5. The printer will print a pattern displaying a number and a nozzle pattern with black & color. Examine the nozzle check pattern that has printed. Each staggered horizontal line and straight vertical line should be complete.
6. To exit the SETUP mode, simply press the COPY mode so that it is illuminated or the copy options appear in the LCD.
If the Nozzle Check Pattern page does not print, prints out with gaps in it or some of the colors do no appear, then there is an issue with the printer. That means that troubleshooting is required on the printer prior to using printer on the computer.
If the Nozzle Check Pattern page prints correctly and completely, the problem may lie within your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer.


according to the manual, goodluck!!!

Remove all ink cartridges and replace them securely in position.That may be the problem always.
Print nozzle check pattern.See for any missing patterns
Give a head cleaning
Again print nozzle check pattern.If it is ok leave it, other wise give a deep cleaning

1. If the printed result does not improve even after doing print head deep cleaning, turn off the printer. Then, after 24 hours or later, do print head deep cleaning again. (After a given time interval, ink could dissolve itself, resulting in ink unclogging.)
   
2. Atleast a multi colour( like your visiting card) page should be printed in a week time. other wise the ink may clog in the head.